ROCKLAND — The City of Rockland has contracted with KRT Appraisal to update assessment information contained on the city’s property record cards. This information is vital to the assessment process and is used to generate fair and equitable assessments, according to the City, in a news release. For most properties in the city, it has been since 2005 that this information was last verified.

Data Collection will begin in late May 2021. Prior to a visit from a KRT Assessor, a postcard will be mailed to the property owner notifying them of the upcoming visit. The first part of the city to receive visits will be Rockland’s north end neighborhoods. Assessors will then work their way south along the water and through downtown then head west away from the harbor. KRT Assessors will carry photo identification, have a letter of introduction from the city, and have their “Assessor’s Office” marked vehicles listed with both the City Manager’s Office and Police Department.

Over the next few months, each property in the City will be visited to measure the exterior of all buildings and attempt to inspect the interior. If the owner is available at the time of the visit, it would be most helpful to allow entry as interior characteristics, quality and condition are a key contributor to market value. If no one is home at the time of the initial visit, a card will be left requesting a phone call for an interior inspection appointment.

Some of the exterior information Assessors will be verifying includes the buildings’ size, age, style, condition, quality of construction, land topography, utilities and many other features. Interior information Assessors will be verifying includes condition, quality of construction, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, walls, flooring, heat/air conditioning, finished basements or attics and many other features. They may also ask the homeowner a few questions regarding any ongoing deferred maintenance or recent renovations to the property, where applicable.

The entire process takes about 15 minutes for most properties.

“Again, your cooperation in this effort to update Rockland’s assessment data is very much appreciated,” said the City, in a news release.